Phila Buthelezi has been reappointed as Labour and Social Welfare Minister

Pictured: Phila Buthelezi , Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. (Picture Credit: Eswatini Government)

Matsanjeni North Member of Parliament Phila Buthelezi has been reappointed as the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare in the 12^th administration headed by Prime Minister Russel Dlamini.

Buthelezi served in the same portfolio in the previous (11th) administration headed by Cleopas Dlamini having replaced the late Makhosi Vilakati who passed away during the COVID-19 period. Minister Vilakati had been appointed in 2018 at the inception of the 11^th administration and before his appointment into the cabinet Mr Buthelezi was serving as the Deputy Speaker of the 11th parliament.

Other notable figures in the 20 individuals (inclusive of the Prime Minister Russel) cabinet include the former social security fund ,the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF), Chief Executive Officer Prince Lonkhokhela who has been appointed into the Natural Resources Portfolio as well as Mabulala Maseko who has been retained in the Public Service Portfolio together with Neal Rekjernberg who has also been retained in the all important finance portfolio in charge of the fiscal and monetary policies of the country.

The rest of the cabinet ministers are as follows, Owen Nxumalo (Education) , Manqoba Khumalo (Commerce) , Dr Thambo Gina (Economic Planning) , Mduduzi Matsebula (Health) , Mandla Tshauke (Agriculture), Prince Simelane (Justice) ,Skhumbuzo Dlamini (Tinkhundla) ,Apollo Maphalala (Housing) ,Chief Ndlaluhlaza (Public Works) and Bongani Nzima (Sports). It has been noted with disappointment that only five women have been appointed into cabinet namely , Thulisile Dladla (Deputy Prime Minisiter) ,Pholile Dlamini (Minister of Foreign Affairs) , Princess Lindiwe(Minister of Home Affairs), Jane Mkhonta (Minister of Tourism) and Savanna Maziya (Minister of ICT). This can be seen as a departure from the approach already adopted during the election of Senators in parliament a few weeks ago whereby they elected 50% men and 50% women.

Minister Buthelezi returns to the Labour and Social Welfare portfolio with strong support from the social partners in the form of labour as well as business. In a recent interview with local daily ,the Times of Eswatini, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland Secretary General Mduduzi Gina voiced out that workers were hoping that Buthelezi would be reappointed as a minister because he had shown some seriousness in addressing labour concerns.

Comments

70 individuals appointed into Emabandla at a high cost to the fiscus

Eswatini Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo (online picture) King Mswati III the Head of State of Eswatini on Saturday issued a directive through the Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo appointing around 70 individuals into several national committees, also known as Emabandla. The appointments come more than a month after the term of office of the previous Emabandla’s term of office came to an end and their term in office was extended indefinitely by the King through a gazette issued by the Attorney General. The several Emabandla announced are as follows, Board of Trustees (7), the Minerals Management Board (7) , Ludzidzini Council (20), Civil Service Commission (5) , Liqoqo Council (20), the Land Management Board (5) and the Teaching Service Commission (5). The National Chief Defence Officer was also announced. The newly appointed Board of Trustees members are as follows: Neal Rikjernberg (Finance Minister and Chairperson), Princess Tiyandza, Chief Ndabankulu Simelane, Chief Mgwagw...

PRE FINAL SALARY REVIEW REPORT RELEASED TO PSUs

Pictured Above: Ministry of Public Service and Administration Principal Secretary Mthunzi Shabangu (L) receiving the Pre Final Salary Review and Jobs Grading report from Emergency Growth/Umelusi Consulting's Siphephiso Dlamini (R). Picture credit: SNAT Platform. Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze The pre final draft report of the public service Salary Review and Jobs Grading report was released to the participants of Joint Negotiations Forum on Tuesday 9 th September 2025 by the consultancy team, a partnership comprising of Emergency Growth and Umalusi Consultancy. The report was symbolically delivered to the leader of the government negotiations team and Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Public Service and Administration, Mthunzi Shabangu. The Public Sector Unions, namely, National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU),the Swaziland National Government Accountants Personnel (SNAGAP), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and the Swaziland Democratic ...

UNPACKING THE ESWATINI NATIONAL PENSIONS BILL,2025

Image Source: an image sourced online depicting a Pension Fund Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze The Eswatini Government released a Government Gazette Extraordinary dated 10 th July 2025 which turned out to be the long awaited Eswatini National Pension Fund Bill 2025. The Bill has been long awaited within the workers movement for several years as they have always campaigned for the conversion of the fund into a full pension, and in January 20205 the Eswatini Government cabinet had given a green light to the conversion of the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) into a pension. In their statement at the time they gave the Minister of Labour and Social Security the baton to ensure the achievement of the pension by introducing the necessary Bill in the legislature. It ought to be mentioned out rightly that the issuance of the Bill has not been received with equal excitement amongst workers particularly public service workers who have raised fears that the new Bil...

Eswatini Labour Insight

Search This Blog